Rein.



No. 63|,486. Patented Aug. 22, |899.

0. FISCHER.

REIN.

(Application Bled Sept. 24, 1898.) Y (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Shed! L Patented Aug. 22, |899.

0. FISCHER.

R E I N (Application led Sept. 24, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(N0 Model.)

l 30 57i e 55e ci f UNITED STATES vPATENT EFCE.

OTTO inset-1ER, OE HARRIMAN, TENNESSEE.

'srncrrroA'rI'oN farming part of Lettere Patent No. 631,486, dated August 22, 189e.

Application nea septem'berze, iseaf serrare; 691,796. (No model.)

To all whom it may coi/werft.-

Be it known that I, OTTO FISCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harriman, in the county of Roane, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Reins, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in harness, and more particularly to the reins thereof, my object being primarily to so construct the reins that a portion of the same in itself is a convenient and safe bitching-strap.

To this end and also to improve generally upon devices ofthe nature indicated, my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view of a rein for a single horse, said rein being provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of that portion of the rein'which is used as a hitchingestrap. lFig. 3 is a perspective view of the connection or coupling between the main or body portion of the rein and the hitching-strap portion. Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe slide used upon the hitchingstrap portion. Fig. 6 is a central sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a plan view of my invention as applied to the reins of a double harness. Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of a single-harness rein provided with a modified form of connection and slide. Fig. 9 is a perspective showing the device used .as a hitching-strap, and Fig. l0 is a similar view with f the slide drawn up to the post.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to Fig. l, which maybe said to represent the unit of the present invention, A represents one line of a set of reins and B the other` line thereof. These lines or reins are made in sections b and b', thevformer of which extends from the rear end of the line and may therefore be called the body7 portion or main section, while the latter sectionc'. e. ,the section b'-is adapted to be attached in any convenient manner .to the bit-ring. A detachable connection or coupling C is provided between the two sections of the line, and the section bis thus adapted to be separated from the body portion of the line and hook d2.

used as a hitching-strap. The connection here lshown is composed of two members c and c', attached to the main and hitching sections of the line, respectively. The member c comprises a buckle c2, by means of which the said member is attached to its line-section, while upon the forward portion of the buckle is an extension c3, having an opening c4 and a cylindrical forward transverse bar o5, the rear side of which adjoins the opening. At One end the transverse bar is provided with a stop c, the ofce of which will more fully hereinafter appear,aud this stop is here produced by forming a lug upon the side piece c7 of the extension c3. The portion of the extension to the inner side of the opening-t'. c. the side away from the transverse bar cil-is provided with a recess es, opening upon the outer face of the extension, the purpose of which recess will be later explained. The c'oacting member c' of ,the connection C comprises a buckle portion d, having a rearward extension d', whose end is reduced in lateral width and is recurved to form an upwardly and forwardly inclined Thus acylindrical socket dsis produced in the rear extension of the coupling member, and shoulders d4 are produced at the sides of the hook. A lug d5 rises from the extension d',.and said lug has an upward incline toward the rear, the top of the lug terminating at a point not below the under surface of the end of the hook d2. A suitable downwardly and rearwardly inclined bridge d6 oonnects the upper end of the lug d5 with the body portion of the extension, and between this bridge and the under surface of the hook is produced a channel CF of just sufficient width to permit the passage of the portion of the extension c3 not provided with'the lug.

The cylindrical socket cl3 is of a cross-section to snugly receive the cylindrical crossbar c5, but at the same time to permit a free pivotal movement of the bar in its socket, while the opening c4 is of a size to receive the hook cl2. Furthermore, the lug. d5 and the recess vo8 are so placed relatively that whenV the members c and c are folded back .uponl each other with the bar o5 asan' axis the said lug fits within the recess. It is alsoto be noted that the channel @Z7 Aextends at an angle to the body portion of the member c of considerably less than ninety degrees, so that when the parts are in position strain upon thelines does not tend to unhook the coupling.

It will now be seen that to connect the members c and c' these are brought into such position with relation to each other that the cylindrical bar c5 registers with the cylindrical socket, while the extension proper, c3, registers with the channel dl. The parts are thus readily slipped together until the lug of contacts with the hook, when the parts @and c' are swung away from each other, the hook entering the opening ci. The parts are now firmly secured together, and consequently the line composed of the main section and the hitching-section is as firm as it it were integral. The members can be separated only when in one position, and even should the two parts be thrown backwardly upon each other the lug enters the recess c8 and holds the parts against relative lateral movement. The upwardly and rearwardly sloping lug (Z5 and the upwardly and forwardly sloping hook d2 and bridge facilitate by reason of their inclined surfaces the passage of the parts through the terrets of the harness, and, furthermore, as the top of thelug (Z5 is not below the end of the hook the member o' is so guided that even should a terret be struck during the passage of said member it will not enter the channel d, but is dcfiected thereover and upon the hook.

The slide E upon the hitching-section comprises side plates c and elliptical transverse bars c', (here shown as three in number,) these bars being substantially in line. The rear portion of each side plate-t'. c., the portion away from the end of the strap adapted to be secured to the bit-has a lateral extension e2, whose forward and rear edges are inclined to form a common angle, and between the extensions at the angle thus produced is an elliptical brace-bar c3. The slide is applied to the strap in the manner illustrated in the drawings-1l. e., the strap passes between the rearmost transverse bar and the brace-bar, under the central transverse bar, and over the forward bar. At all times the slide can be easily adjusted along the strap, and the inclined edges of the extensions permit it to slide easily through the terrets should the slide strike the same.

rlhe construction of the present device and its parts as applied to reins for a single harness being now apparent, its mode of operation is to be considered. With the hitching section and the main section of the line B attached the reins are, in effect, for driving purposes reins ot' ordinary construction, the line B having its sections firmly connected and the slide and coupling members C passing readily through the terrets. When it is desired to hitch, however, the connection C is broken in a well-known manner and the section b of the line B becomes merely a short bitching-strap attached to the bit. The free end of the strap is now passed about a post or other hitching member and the hook upon the member c secured to the rear transverse bar of the slide, as shown in Fig. t), the slide being then preferably pushed up snugly against the post, as shown in Fig. 10. This produces a firm hold,and any pull by the horse only tends to tighten the strap about the post, on the principle ofthe well-known slip-moose. When in the position shown in Fig. l0, the brace-bar of the slide acts as a brace against the outer side of the strap and holds the slide in proper position. Of course the hook can be attached to the forward transverse bar of the slide or to the brace-bar, (in the latter ease the rear transverse bar acting as the brace-barg) but I prefer the attachment first described andillustrated, as this brings the end of the hook on the outside and not against the post, whereby there is prevented mari-ing of the post, marring of or injury to the hook by reason of contact with the post, and outward pushing of the hook and consequent danger of unhitching, as might result were the hook end placed inwardly. It is to be here noted that the connection of the hook with the transverse bar in such a manner as to bring the hook end on the outside- H11 c., away from the post--as above described, is rendered possible by placing the hook end and the transverse bar upon opposite sides of the strap or hitching section. Preferably the hook end is upon the outer or upper Side of the strap, while the transverse bar to' which it is attached is on the inner or under side. It is believed that the operation of unhitching and recoupling the line-sections will be apparent without 'further explanation.

The invention is also applicable to a double harness,and such application is shown in Fig. 7. As here illustrated, the main or unbroken line extends to the opposite horse-t'. e., the main line, which lies upon the near horse, extends to the bit upon the near side of the off horse-while the branch line extends from the main line to the near side of the near horse, and vice versa.. The member c of the connection is applied to the main line, and the portion between this member c and the end of the line which extends to the buggy thus becomes in effect the main section b, heretofore described in connection with a single harness. The branch line has the slide E and the member c ot the coupling upon it, and this branch line thus becomes, in effect, the hitching-section b. The operations of hitehing and re-forming the reins are the same as in the single harness, and if both lines are provided with the bitching-strap section both horses of a double team can be hitched. It is to be noted that, unlike double harness as heretofore constructed,the branch line is the outerline and the mainline is the inner rein, and therefore the hitching section is readily accessible.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form ot' coupling and of slide. In this form the extension d is provided with a circular opening d8, while communicating therewith and extend- IOO lIO

ing forwardly therefrom is a slot d?. 'The' exn tension c3 has a circular post o9 upon its outer surface, and a fingere10 extends rearwardly from the upper portion of said post, a suitable space being left between this finger and the extension. The post and linger are of such size relative to the circular opening and slot that when the parts are p laced upon one another in proper position-z'. e., with the member c turned backward and the post and finger registering with the opening and slotthe said member c slips down` upon the member c, and by turning the member c forwardly into its normal position the slot is brought out of line with the finger and the' extension d is held between the said finger and the extension c3. The bitching-section thus is provided with an eye, and the slide is therefore provided with a hook e4 to engage the same when the strap is hitched around a post, as before described. This structure being light and permitting the coupling members to lie close together is particularly adapted for a single harness.

It is to be noted that the elliptical bars of the slide have one diameter small enough to enter the channel in the coupling member c, while the otherdiameter is greater than that of the channel, but of a size to enter the socket. Thus accidental uncoupling of the parts when the strap is used as a hitching-strap is avoided. Furthermore, theelliptical bars present fiat surfaces for the passage of the stra-p, and thus prevent wear.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A-driving-rein compris-inga main section and a bitching-strap section having means at its front end to connect to a bit; the adjacent ends of said rein-sections being provided with complementary coupling members whereby they may be readily connected and disconnected, and means on the bitching-strap section in advance of its coupling member for engagement thereby when the rear end of said bitching-strap section is passed around or through a bitching-post or like device; substantially as described.

2. Adriving-rein comprisinga main section and a bitching-strap section having means at its front end for connecting it to a bit; the adjacent ends of the rein-sections being provided with complementary coupling members for readily connecting and disconnecting them, and a slide on the hitching-strap section in advance of its coupling member for engagement thereby when the rear end of the bitching-strap section is passed around or through a bitching-post or like device; substantially as described.

A driving-rein comprising a main section, provided at its forward end with a coupling, member, a bitching-strap section provided at its rear end with a coupling member; said coupling members being adapted to be engaged or disengaged by a lateral movement when brought into proper relation and havtially as shown and described.

4. A couplingcomprising complementary members adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a lateral movement when the two members are brought in a given relative position, and having pivotal movement one upon the other when connected, and complemental members upon the coupling members adapted to so engage each other .when the coupling members are swung upon their pivot to a point just beyond that at which the parts are in position to be disengaged, that the parts are locked against uncoupling'lateral movement; substantially as described.

5. A coupling comprising complemental members adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a lateral movement when the two members are brought in a given relative position, and having pivotal movement one upon the other when connected, one of said members being .provided with a socket, and a lug upon the other of said members, the lug and socket being so placed relatively that said lug enters the socket when the coupling members are swung upon their pivot to a point just beyond that at which the parts are in position to be disengaged; substantially as described.

6. A coupling comprising a memberhaving a body portion provided with an opening therein, a transverse bar adjacent said opening, said coupling member being provided with a-recess at that side of the-opening opposite to the said transverse bar, in combination with a second coupling member having a hook, a channel being formed between said hook and the body portion of the second coupling member ofV sufficient widthV to receive the body portion of the rst coupling member but not of sufticient width to receive the said transverse bar thereof, said channel communicating with a socket of suflicient size to receive the transverse bar, the hook being of a size to rest in the opening in the first coupling member, whereby the said coupling members are connected and disconnectedby a lateral movement, and a lug upon the second coupling member adapted to enter the recess in the first coupling member when said members are folded upon each other with the transverse bar as an axis to a point beyond the position in which the body portion-of the first coupling member is in line with the chaunel of the second coupling member; substantially as described.

7. In reins for a double harness, aline having a main portion extending to the inner side and being adapted to be connected to the inner side of the bit of the opposite horse when applied, a coupling member upon said main line, a hitching-section adapted to be IIO connected at its front end with the outer side of the bit of the horse other than the first horse mentioned, and a coupling member upon the rear end of said hitehing-seetion, said coupling member being complementary to the coupling member upon Iche main seetion and being adapted to be connected with :L slide or engaging device on the bitchingseetion between the ends thereof; substantially as described. ro

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.y

OTTO FISCHER. Witnesses:

GALES P. MOORE, C. S. STURTEVANT. 

